It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Andrew Kendrick. Andrew was not only a dear friend to many of us but also a mentor and trailblazer whose passion for icebreaker design and whose strong leadership left an indelible mark across our industry. As we mourn his loss, we also celebrate his remarkable contributions to the marine technical community in the field of naval architecture and ship design.
Andrew earned a Master's Degree in Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture from University College London and moved to Canada in 1981 to work on the Canadian Frigate Program before focusing on icebreaker design. He managed Arctic field test programs and collaborated with organizations such as the Krylov Institute in Russia on the development of the Polar Code and Polar Class Rules. In 2011, he established the Ottawa office of Vard Marine Inc., growing it into a key part of the organization, while also volunteering with multiple marine industry organizations, including serving as President of SNAME from 2020-2021.
Andrew was actively engaged in academia, both in applied research, and in mentoring students in the naval architecture program at Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador (MUN). In his memory, MUN, in conjunction with Vard Marine and, supported by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, have established the Andrew Kendrick Memorial Endowment Fund. This will provide an annual scholarship to an undergraduate student in the Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering program at MUN. Other companies and individuals can also contribute to the endowment fund – as the fund grows it will enable the award of higher value scholarships and eventually multiple awards, continuing Andrew’s legacy in academia and naval architecture.
For information about the scholarship, click here.
There are two ways to donate:
1. Online: Visit https://www.mun.ca/give/give-online/ and select "Other" under "Please Direct My Gift To" and enter "Andrew Kendrick Scholarship."
2. Contact Matt Conway: Senior Development Officer at MUN Engineering via email at mdconway@mun.ca or phone at (709) 864-3274 (recommended for corporate donations).
Andrew’s legacy continues through his incredible contributions, mentorship, leadership and the future students he inspires.